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Daughter's Memories

R-4

How to keep busy with no voice or little voice?
This was my new problem. I continued to maintain my interaction with
the travel industry even without a vibrant voice. I could answer the
phone in my new voice and the person on the other end often heard me
clearly. I attended conferences and reported on them for newspapers
and magazines. If I had to interview a V.I.P., I took my wife along.
In case of some of words were not clear, my wife would clarify them
for me. Socially, I continued receiving invitations for Press
Conferences, luncheons and dinner. But now, I attended only the most
important. I started to feel more relaxed and not so concerned about
being less in demand.

After the removal of my voice box, it was the turn
of my knees. My knees gave way and following the example of our Prime
Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I got my one knee operated in 2000.
The other knee gave me trouble and I got it replaced a year later.
Now, I walk without pain. I am mentioning these troubles as no man is
exempt from pain. Life has its ups and downs and I had my share too.
The voice handicap, taught me how to listen to others carefully and
speak only when necessary. Patience and attentive listening became my
new habit. I have enjoyed it too.

At this time, the Government in its wisdom
included Tourism as a subject for their 11th and 12th year classes in
High School. The Government asked me to sit on a Committee to draft
the syllabus. I attended two meetings and gave them a draft
curriculum as I perceived it. I stopped attending the meetings
thereafter. However, I decided to write an elementary book for the
High School students in a simple and understandable English. It was
first published in 1993 and has gone into its four editions. It is
titled, “An Introduction to Travel and Tourism.” This book is
co-authored by my daughter, Sushma Bhat who teaches in New Zealand.
This book kept me quietly occupied for two years researching and
writing.

As I submitted the manuscript, Sterling Publishers
of Delhi asked me to write a comprehensive Travel Guide book on
India. The brief was that its should be comparable to the best
published abroad. This was a colossal job. I had always wanted to do
something like this but had never before had the kind of time needed
to do it. This opportunity came my way at just the right time. I
would be able to develop a guide book based on my experiences and
interaction with prospective visitors to India from so many parts of
the world. The result 'India – A Traveller's Companion' was first
published in 1995. It now has gone into five editions.

My popular book on Successful Tourism Management,
first published in 1978, was revised from time to time. I now decided
to update it to the level of a Master's Programme. During my 'silent'
days, I worked hard on it including considerable time spent in the
libraries of Auckland. Since the book was now over 800 pages, the
publisher suggested it be printed in two volumes. It is now available
in two volumes. The first volume deals with Tourism Principles and
the second focuses on Tourism Practices.

My journey of life has to end. I am in my early
eighties and it was high time to share my life with the present
generation especially the travails of partition and independence
which our generation suffered before it is too late - the eye
witnesses who watched it will be no more.

The partition did not shatter the spirit of the
Punjabi refugees - they rose from the ashes and one of them is now
the Prime minister of India. Another one preceded him. My
autobiography titled LAHORE TO DELHI – published by a Bangalore
based publisher in 2009 is now widely appreciated.